First Windows Phone 7 update not going smoothly for some Samsung handsets
February 22, 2011 No Comment
So this is why they do phased rollouts, eh? If Twitter is the font of truth and reality that we suspect it to be, it sounds like users of some Windows Phone 7 models by Samsung are struggling with that minor first update that Microsoft started pushing this week. Basically, it sounds like the update isn’t consistently completing; it some cases, users get an error message, and there doesn’t appear to be any way to roll back or restore the prior firmware and get the phone back to a working state. Mass bricking is probably the greatest fear of software engineers before deploying handset updates to the field, so it’s a good thing they’re taking it slow; of course, that’s not much consolation to the folks who are stuck making a call (on someone else’s phone) to Samsung support. [Thanks, jdog25] First Windows Phone 7 update not going smoothly for some Samsung handsets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Beep-It optical theremin for the masses makes sci-fi sound anybody’s game (video)
February 22, 2011 No Comment
We’ve seen theremin mod after theremin mod , but those seeking that distinct sci-fi sound without the physical labor or hefty price tag haven’t had much of an outlet until now. Meet Beep-It, a $35 analog optical theremin that sports a simple on / off switch, volume control, one quarter-inch jack, and light sensitive resistor to make you the master of that otherworldly sound. According to its creator, Michael Una , the little sonic music maker started off as yet another mod — a “single-oscillator square wave theremin” in a petri dish — back in 2008, and underwent a number of incarnations before getting the wood grain treatment you see here. Beep-It is now available at select retailers or direct from the company’s website — then again, we suppose you could hire Bobby McFerrin to do the same thing. Trippy demo after the jump. Continue reading Beep-It optical theremin for the masses makes sci-fi sound anybody’s game (video) Beep-It optical theremin for the masses makes sci-fi sound anybody’s game (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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That the Atrix got itself rooted before it was even available made us wonder just how… receptive it would be to the caresses of the hacker community at large. Sadly we’re finding it’s perhaps a bit more frigid than its friendly demeanor might have lead us to believe. User adlx.xda over at the xda-developers forums has found that the phone’s system files are not encrypted, but they are signed. This will make the process of replacing them and loading custom builds and the like rather more complicated — but surely not impossible. [Thanks, chaoslimits] Motorola Atrix root found to be signed, hacking might not be so easy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Smithsonian Museum will have a video game gallery next year, wants you to vote on what’s in it
February 22, 2011 No Comment
Nobody tell Roger Ebert, but the Smithsonian Museum has announced plans for a new exhibition, called The Art of Video Games, which will run between March and September next year. Charting the 40-year (now there’s a number that will make you feel old in a hurry) evolution of gaming from paddle-based pixel exchanges to sophisticated online multiplayer extravaganzas , this collection of memoirs will focus on the most visually striking and technologically innovative titles. Perhaps knowing how heated debates about video games can get, the Museum has sagely decided to co-opt its audience into the curatorial process — the second source link below will take you to a voting page where you can select your top 80 games from a shortlist of 240… and of course express your rage at the omission of some obscure title you totally loved late one night in 1995. Smithsonian Museum will have a video game gallery next year, wants you to vote on what’s in it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Autoblog drives the 2012 Fisker Karma, deems it ‘best handling large premium car’
February 22, 2011 No Comment
Karma, in a religious sense, is the sort of divine retribution or cause for your deeds or misdeeds. In an automotive sense it’s a $95,900 plug-in luxury performance car that Fisker has been teasing since 2007 . That machine is finally nearing production and Autoblog was lucky enough to take an early model for a spin around California Speedway, a brief test-drive that left the pilots concluding “the Fisker Karma is a rolling dream machine for anyone who wants something very different that works and drives exceptionally well.” For the rest of the impressions on this $100k plug-in hybrid that offers a combined 657hp and 981lb-ft of torque from three motors and will go 50 miles on batteries alone you’ll need to click on through the source link below. For the details on what’s in store from your own karma you need only look inside yourself. Autoblog drives the 2012 Fisker Karma, deems it ‘best handling large premium car’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …PlayStation hackers reportedly able to unban selves, ban others, turn tables
February 22, 2011 No Comment
Just last week Sony said that those found to have hacked their PlayStation 3 consoles would have their PlayStation Network access ” terminated permanently .” Harsh words that, unsurprisingly, weren’t too warmly received by the hacking community. Destructoid is now reporting that not only have those tinkerers found a way to unban themselves, but that they can in turn ban any other console they want. There’s apparently a catch, though, with the hackers having to know the unique ID assigned to the other console that they’ll be banning, which makes this sound like perhaps the hack is simply swapping a “good” ID onto a “bad” console, but at this point we have no details on the supposed procedure here. Regardless, if some random girl with a cute avatar hits you up on IM and, after a few minutes of casual conversation, asks you for the serial number on your PS3, think twice before handing over those digits. PlayStation hackers reportedly able to unban selves, ban others, turn tables originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Verizon announces Xoom pricing: $600 on contract, $20 per month for 1GB data
February 22, 2011 No CommentVerizon just filled in the rest of the Xoom pricing story — in addition to the $800 off-contract version that’s already up for pre-order at Best Buy , you’ll be able to sign a two-year data contract and pick up a Xoom for $600 upfront. That’s a decent savings, although you’ll be getting just 1GB of 3G data for $20/month, so it’s not exactly a stunning deal in the end: a Xoom and 24GB of data over two years for $1,080. On the plus side, Verizon has confirmed that the Xoom LTE upgrade will in fact be free when it goes live in Q2, which is terrific news — but we’re waiting to see what the LTE data plans look like before we get too excited. PR after the break. Continue reading Verizon announces Xoom pricing: $600 on contract, $20 per month for 1GB data Verizon announces Xoom pricing: $600 on contract, $20 per month for 1GB data originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Amazon has just turned on its Prime Instant Video service, letting paid Prime subscribers (sorry, students) in the US (sorry, foreigners) stream any of 5,000 movies and TV shows directly to their machines free of charge — well, free beyond the $79 Primers already pay. Jeff Bezos has confirmed that there will be no extra charge going forward for this service and that Prime itself will not be getting more expensive to pay for all these bits and bytes. Right now the selection is limited, particularly if you already have a Netflix subscription, but we just had to try it out. Click on through for our impressions on a variety of devices. Continue reading Amazon Prime Instant Video hands-on Amazon Prime Instant Video hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Nomad capacitive brush turns your iPad into an art canvas for $24 (video)
February 22, 2011 No Comment
We didn’t have much luck using the oStylus as a paint brush , but even the creator confessed that it was never intended for such chores. Thankfully, the Nomad Brush was concocted specifically for those chores. What you’re looking at above is a paint brush that’s designed for use with capacitive screens, and it could very well spark a modern day renaissance… or something of the sort. The brush is topped with capacitive fibers that the iPhone, Galaxy Tab and iPad (among other tablets and phones) can recognize, enabling you artsy folk to express yourselves even when it’s impractical to tote around a suitcase full of watercolors. Head on past the break for an (admittedly impressive) video, and pop the source link to hand over $24 in exchange for a shipping label. Just promise us you’ll keep it away from any actual paint buckets, okay? Continue reading Nomad capacitive brush turns your iPad into an art canvas for $24 (video) Nomad capacitive brush turns your iPad into an art canvas for $24 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’ve got some good news and some bad news for folks eager for a sportier, all-electric Smart vehicle . The good news is that parent company Mercedes-Benz has just taken the wraps of its brand new Smart Forspeed concept vehicle, which will make its debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. It’s a compact, all-electric roadster that promises a top speed of 75 miles per hour, a range of 84 miles on a charge (which, incidentally, can be done using a normal 220 volt socket), and a luxury interior that even includes a special smartphone housing. The bad news? The company is saying up front that it “won’t make production,” but that “elements of the car will be carried over into future projects.” Hit up the link below for a closer look. Smart shows off Forspeed electric roadster concept originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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